Further observations – Nov 7,2017

Today I was thinking about all the little things that are becoming a part of our lives and thought I would share them with you.

• When it comes, you can hear the trees moving in the wind. It’s like a freight train and comes quickly and with surprising intensity. It’s also quite noisy! I am listening to a storm approaching right now as I am sitting on our couch. It will come with a fury and then be gone quite quickly. After the rain has passed, the wind will continue to blow and soon the ground is dry and there will be no evidence it ever stormed. I love the sound of it all.

• Today, Fusi, our office manager, gave me another lei. It was so thoughtful and I wore it all day as I worked. Wearing beautiful flowers that smell so heavenly makes one happy. You can’t help but just feel so good!

• We had a yummy dinner tonight. Mahi Mahi which I simply pan fried and BokChoy which I cooked in coconut aminos, plus broiled squash. The last two things were given to me. It was simple fare, but we really loved every bite.

• When we go to the market it’s, by choice, usually the open air stalls downtown in Nuku’alofa. There on long long tables every conceivable fruit and vegetable available are for sale. No prices on anything. Half of them I don’t recognize. Most people find a seller they like and go from there. You don’t buy a single pepper or carrot, but buy almost everything in bunches. The Kapps introduced us to their favorite vendor, and when we were there Saturday she recognized me. I collected my bag of things and then she threw in some cherry tomatoes of various colors, some squash and the bok choy. That’s just the Tongan way. I feel like we’re eating well and we love having things so fresh.
• We have a a number of projects that need to be done.  Hopefully letters for the front of the building will be replaced soon. I have found my “Go To” guy in Garrick Parr who, with his wife Susan are working for the church and are in charge of all the buildings in Tonga. They hail from New Zealand. If I ask for anything at all it magically is done in the most timely of ways. I appreciate him immensely!

• If you have a project- It’s better for your mental health just to let go of any preconceived notion that it will be done in a timely way. There is only one speed here and that is compound slow. Today Dad and I were working in the 2^nd clinic while the Facilities Management guys installed the simple shelves he had ordered. Basically picture a 10”x24” board that needs to be placed in a plain box type shelving unit that is screwed to the wall.

(Some much needed supplies that came in the mail- You can never be sure if they will arrive damaged as these were).

• The spacing between the shelves wasted a lot of space so the idea was to add a few shelves to each unit and have more storage and better organization. It also would be a good place for………..plastic bins!

• So it turns out that shelving brackets just do not exist in Tonga Try to explain them and you are met with questioning look. We were told they might have some in Hawaii. Dad came up with an easy alternative, (3d world, but that’s ok) and the guys agreed to come and install them. I think it took three trips before they finally came with everything they needed. Wrong screws, no skill saw, shelves too wide etc. Remember it’s a plain shelf! Finally they were ready. One man sits, and the other does the work. Dad said Christopher could have done the whole thing in an hour or possibly two. It took these nice men all of one day and a good part of another, and they still are not done. One shelf slopes from one end to the other. That’s kind of the Tongan way too. One time it was quiet in the Sterilization room so Dad peeked in. Both men were sleeping!! Really! Well now, it’s 9 p.m. and Dad is back at the clinic putting the labels on the bins. He is pleased as punch and everything looks great. He didn’t even get frustrated by it, because these things are to be expected here.
• This is a picture of our x-ray “chair”  We have only the finest equipment!  On the other hand, the digital unit is really a godsend, and we can read our pictures on the laptop you see by Fusi.

• With older people (anyone over 50) we just pull teeth. They are not going to change their ways, and there is no point in educating them. They don’t care (and I say that in a gentle and nice way) about their dental health. Not 1 iota. Spend a few minutes taking out a tooth or two or three, or maybe even four, tell the patient they did great and send them on their way with a smile. With the young people, it’s worth a try.
• Here are a few people Dad took a picture of at the after Graduation party last week.  Tongans love to dress up and they never hesitate when you ask them for a picture.  They always say “Thank You”, and seem to delight at our interest in them. Notice their candy necklaces.  They will keep us in business as candy is their staple food, unfortunately.

• Tongans really are thought to be old at fifty. Their lifespan is about 60-65 for men and up to 70 for women. I think you could make a case for rampant infection due to oral neglect being a main causative factor.

• Today a nice woman brought us a vase full of beautiful gardenias which made the whole clinic look and smell beautiful. She was all bubbly with happiness as she shared them with us and we accepted in the same way. Kisses and hugs followed the gifting and off she went.

• A number of people come here because the clinic has a good reputation. Much better than anywhere else nearby. Remember that dad is one of three dentists on this island, currently. Two darling girls, one from South Africa and the other from England came in today. They had taken a Holiday from their jobs on Vava’u and came on over to the clinic, chancing that we would have room to see them. It was a slow afternoon so Dad did their work and made them so happy! The one girl had really uneven maxillary anteriors(The lower edges looked like they were scalloped). He did his “instant orthodontic” magic by smoothing them off and she left so much prettier. We see Australians and new Zealanders as well.

• So now the storm has come and gone and I must say goodnight. 4:45 a.m. seems to come early these days.

xoxox  Mom